Ottawa Senators trade rumors: Is Craig Anderson in play?

As far as Ottawa Senators trade rumors go, the idea of moving Craig Anderson could seem preposterous. The goaltender was on a historic roll last year before injuries derailed his remarkable season, and he’s been solid for Ottawa so far in 2013-14. Yet Anderson is currently viewed as one of the more elite goalies in the NHL.

Will that still be the case a year from now?

With that in mind, there have been some rumblings about Ottawa moving their No. 1 netminder for assets in a “strike while the iron is hot” kind of move.

This idea raises a few questions. There’s little doubt that someone would have to absolutely blow the Senators away with an offer for them to be willing to move Anderson. With so many teams hurting for help in net though, would it be surprising to see a package that includes picks, prospects and NHL-ready players tabled within the next few weeks?

Robin Lehner is a strong backup and an good up-and-coming goalie, but he might not be ready for a full-time gig right now. Plus Anderson still has another year left on his contract after this season, and his $3.1 million cap hit is among the most friendly in the NHL. That’s a big selling point if Anderson is on the block.

Yet it is also a strong reason for Ottawa to stand pat in net.

At this juncture, a move doesn’t seem imminent. Yet we were saying the same thing about Thomas Vanek a week ago. Things change quickly in the NHL, and who knows how long the Senators have been chatting with other teams about Anderson. It’d take a strong package to be sure, but if the Senators don’t believe entirely in this group this season, making a move with their No. 1 goalie could make sense.

Ottawa is at a crossroads right now with a 4-5-2 record. Anderson’s play has been hot and cold, and the Senators need to string some wins together to remain competitive moving forward. If the wheels fall off within the next two or three weeks though, could we see a top goalie changing hands?